Kira laughed as they darted back and forth. They each had a turn tackling the other. Then Zaka showed her where the outdoor waterer was. They sloppily drank from the stainless steel basin I’d mounted under the spigot on my back patio.
“I think they’ll be okay to play,” I said and motioned for Kira to go inside.
After we got inside, I slid the inner door over the dog door so they wouldn’t come flying in here to play and tear the house apart. Kira had taken a seat on one of the stools at my breakfast bar.
Knowing we needed to talk first, I told my surging dick to behave.
Unable to sit still due to the tension shifting through me, I paced. Finally, I decided it was probably like a Band-Aid—just rip it off.
“There’s no easy way to say this, Kira. You have a hit out on you.” I watched her closely to gauge her reaction.
Instead of the shocked look I expected, her entire body began to tremble. Not saying a word, she simply stared at me.
“Kira? Did you hear me?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
When her hazel eyes blinked, she inhaled shakily and exhaled on a rush. “Who?”
The fact that she didn’t start freaking out about what I’d told her was proof that she likely knew more about her father than I’d expected.
“At the moment that doesn’t matter,” I began, but she cut me off.
“You can’t just tell me that there’s a hit out on me like we’re discussing the chance of rain, then tell me it doesn’t matter who ordered it,” she snapped. Fuck, she was sexy when she was angry.
“Yes, I fucking can, because I have a way to fix it.” At my words, she instantly looked suspicious.
“How?”
“We announce that you’re my ol’ lady.” Pausing in my pacing, I crossed my arms, waiting to see what she had to say about it. I didn’t have long to wait.
“Yourwhat?” She sat there with her mouth hanging open.
“My ol’ lady—my woman,” I said nonchalantly. Because it seemed the perfect solution to me.
“Are you insane? We barely know each other!” It was her turn to get up and pace. “You must be out of your damn mind.”
Snagging her arm as she passed, I pulled her against me. Initially, she tried to push away, but I wasn’t budging, and she finally gave up. Struggling, that was. She was pissed.
“I’m not crazy, I’m a Royal Bastard. That means something. With it comes a certain security for you when it comes to the person who wants you dead.”
“Is it Ivan?” she asked, and I was instantly on edge.
“Ivan who?” I asked hesitantly. Something told me I wasn’t going to like her answer to that question.
“Ivan Miloslavsky,” she reluctantly replied. My heart stopped.
“What the actual fuck would he want to kill you for?” I had to fight roaring it out. Miloslavsky was a sick fuck who was thick in the Russian human trafficking rings. Rumor had it he was closely tied to Vladimir Solonik, who the Tonopah chapter had shut down.
“Because I refused to marry him,” she said, and I damn near choked. The thought of her marrying anyone else sent a frisson of fury through me. The thought of it being Ivan Miloslavsky followed that fury with a cold chill.
“Does your father know what kind of shit Miloslavsky’s into?” Not that her father was much better. Which had me wondering if she knew what her father did for a living.
She gave a disgusted huff. “Of course he does. Which is why I can’t be anything to you, Ogun. It would slap a target so big on your back. Probably on your entire club. He probably already knows I’m with you right now.” She dropped her head to rest on my chest. She could likely feel the pounding of my heart.
“What are you talking about?” I asked with deadly calm.
“My father called me after our date. He knew about me being with you.” She lifted her head to look at me. The green in her hazel eyes was brilliant with the glisten of tears she held back.
“Fuck. You should’ve told me,” I muttered.